My Beauty Stalwarts
From luscious lashes to blending brushes, here's a roster of cosmetic gems that help my face to get from A to B without any oil spills.
As a 15 year old ingenue I really was naive enough to believe that with a flick of a face wipe and a splash of water my delicate yet (excessively) oily skin was prepped for the day ahead. Now at the ripe old age of 22 and having come to terms with the rather firey temperament of my pores I can confidently say that I know better. A foolproof, dehydration-proof and dirt-proof beauty regime is essential for any young woman that wants to face the day refreshed and let her perfectly cleansed cheeks hit her pillow confident in the knowledge that she is giving her skin the tender, loving care that it truly deserves. It has taken me years of swapping and changing to discover what works for me and I'm still learning, but for now, these are the beauty stalwarts that my face can't live without.
The cleansing oil
As the owner of shamelessly sebacious skin I was naturally a little weary about trialing a cleansing oil, but since I got my hands on this bottle of cosmetic nectar I haven't looked back. The light-weight formula instantly dissolves all traces of makeup and reduces pore visibility leaving my skin feeling soft and fresh. What's more this gem by L'oreal really is a one-man show as it rids your face of foundation, lipstick and pesky mascara residue. After a week of usage the inflamed acne along my cheeks and jawline was visibly reduced and I was hooked.
L'Oreal facial cleansing oil: £5.29 from Superdrug
The targeted breakout brigade
Speaking of inflammation, sometimes breakouts require a more hands on approach and this is where Mr Badescu makes a much needed appearance. The drying mask and buffering lotion calm and dry out particularly persistent pimples, even those that lie under the skin (you know what
I'm talking about.) Despite a rather overwhelming sulphuric smell that hit me like a truck when I prised the lid from the mask and a cringe-inducing price tag, I have been using these beauties for months and they have become my go-to for unwelcome arrivals.
Mario Badescu Drying Mask: £15.50 from Beauty Bay
Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion: £15.50 from Beauty Bay
The facial plunger
Effaclar Duo cream has become a sturdy and reliable part of my skincare routine, and I apply it every night without fail under an oil-free moisturiser. Containing Zinc and Linoleic acid it works to unclog pores, combat oiliness and prevent future marking of the skin. As all acne sufferers know, clearing inflamed blemishes is only half the battle, and products like this are a great way of warding off scarring and hyperpigmentation once the storm has passed.
La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo: £15.50 from Boots
The prep my face dynamic duo
I'll bow my head in shame and admit that regular skin hydration only recently became a permanent fixture in my beauty regime, but since clapping my eyes upon Nivea's oil-free moisturising day cream my skin thirst is always quenched. After applying my non-clogging day cream, I prime my face with a No. 7 favourite, it literally makes my face feel like a bed of puppies, soft, silky and absolutely strokeable. It also boosts makeup durability, so that my face doesn't end up in a puddle on the floor in the event of a downpour or heavy winds.
Nivea Daily Essentials oil-free Moisturising Day Cream: £3.99 from Boots
The peeper-boost lashes
False lashes are the Baileys and hot chocolate of my vanity case in the sense that I only reserve them for special occasions. My eyes are also extremely sensitive so I have to be careful with what I put near them. The Cheryl Sexy Senorita lashes by Eyelure are the perfect artificial enhancers for any sleepy-eyed girl that wants to add a bit of extra zing to her eyes without looking too 'done' or feeling as if her lashes are made of lead. Light and fluttery, I keep a fresh pair tucked away for when I feel like making a bit of extra effort with my eye dressage.
Eyelure Cheryl Sexy Senorita lashes: £6.00 from Boots
The blemish blanket
Oil-free is a running theme when it comes to my morning routine, and my makeup base is no exception. This formula by Bobbi Brown provides medium, matte coverage and won't leave your pores reeling. I apply the foundation as a base before powder to cover up the majority of my skin blips and even out my complexion. A little side note, the lack of oil means that it dries fast, so I usually apply it in sections to avoid ending up with a facial tapestry adorned with patches of congealed beige tones. It is expensive but worth every penny as it reduces skin slip n' slide and lasts for yonks.
Bobbi Brown oil-free Even Finish Foundation: £28.35 from John Lewis
The failsafe scent
Unlike my younger sister who possesses a treasure trove of scents
akin to a perfume shop in her bedroom, my loyalty to Chloe perfume is unflappable. Precarious finances and an ability to purchase any other scents are admittedly a factor, but even so I doubt I'll ever stop requesting good ol' Chlo come Christmas. Floral and sweet, yet subtle and sophisticated, a spritz of Chloe in the morning makes me feel as if I have my life in check even in the midst of post-graduate panic.
Chloe Eau de Parfum: £42.30 from Debenhams
The iron-clad volumiser
As part of the bob brigade and posessing very little hair, padding out my tresses in all the right places is essential. Granted, most days my short do is usually scrunched into a bizarre pirate's ponytail with frenzied fluffy bits escaping onto my neck (nightmare.) However, when I can muster
the energy to make a splash with my locks I blast my hair upside down from the roots and plump it up at the hairline with this V05 gem. After a lot of fluffing, frothing and faff my hair usually sets itself into a volumised bob with the power to last. Smells tasty too.
V05 Plump it Up Backcomb Spray: £4.19 from Boots
